The incredibly beautiful snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is indigenous to the mountains of Central Asia. Their dense coats and snowshoe-like paws are ideally suited for their cold, dry, rocky native environment. These shy, elusive cats, when fully grown, weigh up to 120 pounds and nose to tip of their very thick, furry tails measure up to 7-1/2 feet long. Sadly, these phenomenal cats are an endangered species.

This photograph was taken on a private reserve in Kalispell, Montana. The black and white palette adds depth and drama to this cat's intense posture, mesmerizing eyes, and her exquisite spotted coat.

San Jose, CA--December 5, 2008--Fine Art Photographer, Stephen W. Oachs, has been filming nature and landscapes for relatively few years, but his quality of work has garnered him many awards and attention. When he heard three of his photographs were selected for the National Geographic 2008 International Photography Contest, he was thrilled. However, nothing compares to the exhilaration of actually winning.

"To be recognized by National Geographic for my work is exciting, and to be ranked among the incredible caliber of quality photography associated with the National Geographic name is an incomparable honor," said Oachs. "There were excellent images in the nature category, and this win is a personal milestone, and spurs me on to strive for even better work."

Oachs' photography has won much acclaim, along with numerous awards and photography contests before National Geographic, including Popular Photography Magazine and National Wildlife Federation Photo Contest. His photo of the Fly Geyser in the Black Rock Desert will be in the Singh-Ray national ad campaign. His work is sold online and through his art gallery shows in the northern California/Bay area, and he is currently offering photography workshops, and is available for presentations and speaking engagements. To contact Oachs or learn about his workshops, visit his Website, www.stephenoachs.com.

About Stephen W. Oachs

Stephen is a successful entrepreneur, technology veteran and award-winning photographer working out of San Jose and San Francisco, California. He began his journey in photography the moment he picked up his first SLR camera. Ever since, his lenses have focused on the inspiring majesty of mother earth and the unflinching beauty of the animal kingdom. Stephen truly has a gift for capturing rare and breathtaking moments of light and time. Learn more about Stephen and his work by visiting his photography journal at www.stephenoachs.com, his online gallery, Light: The Expedition, and his blog, stephenoachsphotography.blogspot.com.